Portland Trail Blazers outlast Denver Nuggets in Game 3 to win four-overtime playoff classic
Written by News on 05/05/2019
CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard combined for 69 points and Rodney Hood scored critical late baskets as the Portland Trail Blazers outlasted the Denver Nuggets to win Game 3 of their Western Conference semi-final series 140-137 after four overtime periods.
McCollum scored 41 points and Lillard added 28 as the Blazers pulled out a thrilling victory in the longest NBA playoff game since 1953, giving Portland a 2-1 series lead.
Jamal Murray scored 34 points and Nikola Jokic collected 33 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists for the Nuggets in a game that featured 24 lead changes.
Will Barton split a pair of free throws to give Denver a 134-133 lead with one minute left in the fourth OT, but Rodney Hood’s baseline jumper pushed Portland in front 135-134 with 44.9 seconds to go.
Paul Millsap’s lay-up lifted the Nuggets into a 136-135 advantage with 27.6 seconds to play. Hood swished a three-pointer to give the Blazers a 138-136 edge with 17.8 seconds remaining.
Jokic made 1-of-2 foul shots to make it 138-137 with 5.6 seconds on the clock.
Portland’s Seth Curry hit a pair at the line for a 140-137 lead with 2.8 ticks left. Denver’s inbounds pass was intercepted, and the game was Portland’s.
At the end of regulation, Lillard scored on a driving lay-up to give the Blazers a 102-100 edge with 31.6 seconds left. Barton’s lay-up tied it again at 102-102 with 28.6 seconds remaining. Portland’s Al-Farouq Aminu missed a three-point attempt, and it was on to overtime.
In the first overtime, Millsap scored on a jump hook to pull the Nuggets ahead 109-107 with 47.1 seconds to play. After misses at both ends, McCollum evened the score at 109-109 on a floater with 8.7 ticks left.
After a timeout, Jokic missed a desperation three-point attempt, forcing a second extra session.
In the second OT, McCollum’s step-back jumper made it 118-116 Portland with 1:26 remaining, but Barton tied it on a lay-up with 1:03 left. Neither team scored again, and it was on to a third overtime.
Millsap made it 129-125 on a turnaround jumper with 32.2 seconds remaining in the third extra session. Lillard scored on a driving lay-up to trim the difference to 129-127 with 27.3 seconds left.
After a Denver turnover, Lillard converted another driving lay-up to square it game at 129-129 with 8.4 ticks left. Murray’s desperation three-point try missed as time expired, sending the game to what proved to be a decisive fourth extra session.
Game 4 takes place in Portland late on Sunday night (midnight).
(c) Sky News 2019: Portland Trail Blazers outlast Denver Nuggets in Game 3 to win four-overtime playoff classic
